Supplementary feeding of European Turtle Doves Streptoptelia turtur: provisioned plots are preferentially used and do not have higher frequency of the parasite Trichomonas gallinae

MacDonald, Michael; Anderson, Guy; Dunn, Jenny; Grice, Philip; Peach, Will; dos Remedios, Natalie; Thomas, Rebecca; Morris, Antony

Abstract

Capsule: Plots provisioned with a supplementary seed mix during summer attracted European Turtle Doves and other farmland birds and only exhibited low incidence of the parasite Trichomonas gallinae.
Aims: To test whether Turtle Doves and other granivorous birds use plots provided with supplementary seed, and whether use of these plots increased exposure to T. gallinae.
Methods: Supplementary seed mix was provided at two rates (3 kg and 6 kg per 250 m2 plot) weekly at 37 sites in the spring and summer of 2016 and 2017. Provisioned plots, and similar, but un-provisioned control areas were surveyed for Turtle Doves and other birds. Soil swab samples were also taken and analysed for the presence of T. gallinae using a standard polymerase chain reaction procedure.
Results: Turtle Doves were much more likely to be recorded on provisioned plots than unprovisioned control areas. Other granivores of conservation interest (Common Linnet Linaria cannabina, Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, House Sparrow P. domesticus, Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, Corn Bunting E. calandra and Yellowhammer E. citrinella) were significantly more abundant on provisioned plots than on control areas. Positive samples for T. gallinae were rare on both provisioned plots and unprovisioned areas (8 out 474 samples across both years). Samples classified as either ambiguous (due to the presence of genomic DNA that could not be definitively ascribed to T. gallinae) or positive were equally likely on provisioned plots and unprovisioned areas, but these were more likely to occur at sites where European Greenfinches Chloris chloris were recorded.
Conclusion: Supplementary seed provisioning in summer can attract foraging Turtle Doves which might be exposed to low prevalence of T. gallinae on the feeding areas.

Citation

MacDonald, M., Anderson, G., Dunn, J., Grice, P., Peach, W., dos Remedios, N., Thomas, R., & Morris, A. (in press). Supplementary feeding of European Turtle Doves Streptoptelia turtur: provisioned plots are preferentially used and do not have higher frequency of the parasite Trichomonas gallinae. Bird Study,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 25, 2025
• Deposit Date: May 16, 2025
• Print ISSN: 0006-3657
• Electronic ISSN: 1944-6705
• Publisher: British Trust for Ornithology
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1238237